WINNEBAGO — When some teams lose their leading rusher from the year before to a torn ACL in Week 3, things can go downhill quickly.

Winnebago is not some teams.

Some can’t regroup mentally; some can’t fill the hole and fail to produce; some teams even pound the panic button, and lose all hope for a strong finish.

Winnebago is certainly not some teams.

“No, we don’t do that,” seventh-year head coach Mark Helm said. “We’re fortunate; we just plug the next guy in and roll.”

And roll they have. The Indians went 9-3 the last two years to set school records for wins and advanced both times to the Class 3A state quarterfinals, getting farther than any other Winnebago football team. They haven’t let their foot off the gas this year, either.

They’re off to their best start in school history at 7-0, and the team that has been overshadowed — both in the Big Northern Conference, and in the state — by neighboring Stillman Valley, Oregon and Byron, and most recently by rising-power Rockford Lutheran, isn’t sneaking up on anybody these days.

Winnebago, with its running-back-by-committee approach, was ranked fifth in the state when the latest 3A rankings came out.

“It’s an amazing feeling. Winnebago doesn’t normally have seasons like this, so everybody around is getting into it,” leading rusher, Michael Pate (628 yards on 72 carries), said. “Everybody has always paid attention to Stillman Valley, Oregon, all those other teams around. But now, we’re coming on strong. We’re on a roll.”

When the Indians lost Fred Mosby, they just moved right on down the line. Mosby ran for 750 yards last year and had 196 yards (on only 17 carries) when he blew out his knee in the Indians’ one-point Week 3 win over Mendota.

But Winnebago, which relied on anywhere between four and six ballcarriers each game even when Mosby was healthy, has kept on winning.

So while Mosby’s speed, elusiveness and leadership qualities are no longer there, the Indians have stayed undefeated. Winnebago has racked up 39 points per game, including a 63-point night on Sept. 27 against Rock Falls.

And they’ve done most of their damage on the ground, rotating six different ballcarriers regardless of the down or situation.

“We’ve just been fortunate to have that many talented kids at one time. It just keeps happening to us,” Helm said. “One thing I preach on this team is that if you come to practice, work hard, and do your job, you’re going to play.”

Page 2 of 3 - And Helm has been a man of his word. Last season Winnebago had six backs with 275 yards or more on the ground but none with more than 750, and in 2011, the Indians had five with 210-plus, and four over 400 yards rushing.

This year, with or without Mosby, it’s been more of the same.

So while no one back gets the workhorse label — or the gaudy stats that go along with it — they all get a big lesson on how to win as a team.

Senior Nolan Peterson, the team’s third-leading rusher with 285 yards and five touchdowns, added: “We’re all fine with it. We don’t need one star on the team, we just need to win.”

The team’s success on the ground can also be traced to the front lines, where center Adam Abate anchors a young but powerful group. Helm has developed an offensive line that doesn’t care who is carrying the ball. It only cares about moving someone out of the way, for whoever is coming through.

“Everyone on this team is a star, not just one guy. We don’t even know who’s in and who’s not, we just do our jobs, and make it work,” Abate said. “Nobody has really taken us seriously for awhile, but we’re earning it now. Three good seasons in a row does that. But, we all know, it’s all about how you finish.”

The Indians will face 1-6 Byron this week, with the other undefeated team in the BNC West Division, No. 6-ranked Stillman Valley, paying them a visit in Week 9. They have already secured their spot in the postseason for the fifth year in a row, but they all believe they have plenty of work left to do as they chase their first conference title in 24 years (back when the Big Northern was the Mid-Northern) and second since 1961.

And if they do it, they’ll do it as a group, without a star, but with plenty of momentum and plenty of confidence.

“We know, the backs that get in there, we have to take advantage of every opportunity we get,” Pate added. “The same goes for the team, and we’ve got a great shot at doing something big over the next few weeks. We’re clicking, and we’re going to keep it clicking for as long as we can.”